Juvenile Accountability Block Grants Program Reauthorization Act of 2010

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1514) to amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to reauthorize the juvenile accountability block grants program through fiscal year 2014.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, this bill reauthorizes the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant program for an additional 3 years.

I worked with my Republican colleagues in 1997 to develop and pass the legislation that created this important initiative. This program directs the Department of Justice to make grants to States and units of local government to strengthen their juvenile justice systems.

The program allows funds to be used for a broad range of purposes that help reduce juvenile crime, such as establishing programs to assess the needs of juvenile offenders in order to facilitate provision of comprehensive services; establishing programs to reduce recidivism amongst juveniles; hiring juvenile court judges, court-appointed defenders and advocates; and developing systems of graduated sanctions for juvenile offenders.

The Juvenile Accountability Block Grant has been an important part of the Federal Government's funding of juvenile justice programs. When we worked together on a bipartisan basis to develop this program, Members recognized that success in preventing juvenile crime and reducing recidivism by juvenile offenders requires something other than tough- sounding slogans and sound bites.

When it comes to dealing with issues of juvenile justice, we're fortunate that there is more and more information available showing that we need to make sure that we approach this problem based on evidence, and we know that that evidence shows what works and what doesn't work.

Those studies show that comprehensive prevention and early intervention programs directed towards youth at risk of involvement, or those already involved in the juvenile justice system, will significantly reduce crime.

For example, we've seen in this program that this program has funded a chemical dependency program in Idaho serving at-risk youth with mental health issues and substance abuse and related offenses.

And in Ohio, the program funded a system of graduated sanctions that provided alternatives to secure detention for pre-adjudicated youth.

These are just two examples of how the program successfully provides juvenile justice professionals with alternatives they need so that there is not a one-size-fits-all system of sanctions, regardless of the needs and situation of each juvenile.

We extend and strengthen grants to ensure more accountability for juvenile crime, and so we need to make sure that these principles are kept in mind, and we do more to help communities prevent juvenile crime from occurring in the first place.

I am pleased that this program continues to have bipartisan support. This bill is cosponsored by the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers); the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith); and the Crime Subcommittee ranking member, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gohmert).

I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his support. I urge colleagues to support this bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 1514, the Juvenile Accountability Block Grants Program Reauthorization Act of 2009. I am encouraged the Judiciary Committee has devoted its time and resources to such an important piece of legislation.

This bipartisan legislation is sponsored by Crime Subcommittee chairman Mr. Bobby Scott. Other notable cosponsors include Judiciary Committee chairman and ranking member John Conyers and Lamar Smith, and Crime Subcommittee ranking member Louie Gohmert.

Crimes committed by children strike at the very core of our communities. Our children are the promise of a better and brighter tomorrow and hope for future generations. Reducing juvenile crimes and improving the juvenile justice system is a vital step in preserving and protecting the future of our children.

H.R. 1514 amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to extend through fiscal year 2014 the authorization of appropriations for the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant program.

The goal of the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant program is to equip communities with the financial resources to reduce juvenile delinquency and increase the accountability of juvenile offenders in the justice system. The Juvenile Accountability Block Grant program awards Federal block grants to the 50 States, the District of Columbia and the five U.S. Territories, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Grants from this program have helped provide communities with restorative justice programs, police and probation partnerships, drug and teen courts, and other programs which facilitate the successful re- entry of juvenile offenders from custody back into the community.

In 2009, the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant program provided local communities in my home State of Florida with over $2 million to assist them in their efforts to make our families and neighborhoods safer. These Federal grants were used to combat gang violence, curb juvenile drug use, and provide mediation services to juvenile offenders and their victims.

Meeting the challenge of reducing juvenile crime extends beyond the traditional punitive criminal justice system. It requires a comprehensive approach to ensuring that juveniles not only receive punishment proportional to their crime, but also receive the support that they need to get back on the right track.

The Juvenile Accountability Block Grant program is an essential tool for the States and communities across the Nation. I support the reauthorization of this program and urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, unfortunately, I missed the following recorded votes on the House floor the legislative week of Tuesday, May 18, 2010.

For Tuesday, May 18, 2010, had I been present I would have voted ``No'' on rollcall vote No. 273 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 2288), ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 274 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 4614), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 275 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1327).

For Wednesday, May 19, 2010, had I been present I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 276 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 1514), ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 277 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 5325), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 278 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1325), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 279 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1362), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 280 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 5099), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 281 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 403), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 282 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1292), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 283 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1364).

For Thursday, May 20, 2010, had I been present I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 284 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 5327), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 285 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1256), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 286 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1336), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 287 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H. Res. 1361), ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 288 (on ordering the previous question on H. Res. 1363), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 289 (on agreeing to H. Res. 1363), ``aye'' on rollcall vote No. 290 (on motion to suspend the rules and agree to H.R. 5128).

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to speak out of order for one minute. This morning I had the privilege of attending the funeral ceremony for Col. Dan Devlin and his wife Darlene. They were interred at Arlington National Cemetery with full honors. Col. Devlin had served as Commandant at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey in my district.

However, while I was at the funeral I missed four votes. Had I been here I would have voted in this way: ``Yes'' on H.R. 1514, the Juvenile Accountability Block Grant Program Reauthorization; ``yes'' on H.R. 5325, the America COMPETES Reauthorization; ``yes'' on H. Res. 1325, Recognizing National Missing Childrens Day; and ``yes'' on H. Res. 1362, to commend the life of Lena Horne.

Madam Speaker, on May 19, 2010, I inadvertently missed rollcall No. 276, but had I been present I would have voted ``yes.''